LoL! My family was from WV and I even have one of the old MT instruments here. Course Dad said we were to never admit it.
I never had to live with that sort of poverty. My parents did.
They rarely spoke of it.
Mom does now. They sure didnt then.
I’m not sure that they talked about it when it was so fresh for them, but they have told some stories over the years, that’s for sure.
I always asked them to write that stuff down, but they never have that I know of. They got into a big debate at a family gathering one time about whether they would have been considered “poor white trash” back then. The general consensus was that they would not, because they were always clean, and went to church!!
My family (by marriage) was all from W.Va. They were poor, sure - but didn’t know it. They had a roof over their heads, food in their tummies, and shoes on their feet. They felt rich!
They grew every vegetable imaginable on their little plots of land, and loved to barter for whatever was needed, and there was always a neighbor to trade something with. They preserved and canned everything from ground beef to jams and jellies.
My favorite was (and still is) green tomato relish! There’s nothin’ better on a hot dog, to this day!
The old foot pump sewing machine was continually putting clothes together for the ever growing kids. The crochet hook and knitting needles clicked away all year for those beautiful scarves, sweaters and afghans that everyone got at Christmas.
The cow was milked by hand (for those lucky enough to have one), and the eggs were collected every morning in the hen house.
Rabbit, squirrel, ground hog, deer and elk were sometimes the only protein available, but the ladies knew how to simmer ‘the meat’ all day with those special spices and herbs (and a little tad from Gramps’ “medicinal” bottle of booze.)
Babies were born in the back bedroom, and the old folks were never sent to a nursing home. The whole family would pitch in to help with any dibilitating illness, always with loving, tender kindness and respect.
Their lives were simple, but so incredibly full.
And, they were never, ever ashamed.